Plants are organisms that provide us with food and shade trees. But it doesn't have magical power.

To be sure, rainforests are an integral part of our ecosystem in the sense that they remove carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.

But unfortunately, the theory that plants in a room remove toxins from the air in the room, as in The Atlantic's article, is nonsense.

Explain why you buy plants to decorate your room, reduce stress, not to clean the air.

Why indoor plants can't purify air effectively

In nature, plants produce oxygen, act as a carbon sink, and absorb pollutants to keep ecosystems healthy. That doesn't mean that the effect applies to small homes.

According to the information site "Science Alert", "10 to 1000 plants are required per square meter of living space" in order to actually remove toxins in the air effectively. Unless you live in a greenhouse, it's not very realistic.

It was in the 1980s that the theory that plants remove toxins contained in the air in narrow spaces became widespread.

A study conducted by NASA scientist Bill Wolverton found that certain plants have the ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air in a closed environment.

This study was conducted with the life of an astronaut living in a closed space for a long time in mind.

But now, it's often misused as the basis for the theory that "you should buy more plants and put them around your house."

Dr. Michael Waring, a professor of engineering at Drexel University, explains in an article in The Atlantic that the results of the 1989 study do not apply to the average home.

If you're a scientist or astronaut who has to stay in an enclosed space for hours, you might want to bring in one or two potted plants.

But if you're worried about the clean air in your home, you should open the windows.

Still, there are many reasons to put plants indoors

Instead of buying a specific plant with the false expectation that you want the air in your home to be clean, consider the psychological and emotional benefits that the plant gives you.

According to the "Healthline" article, living in a house with lots of plants can help reduce stress and increase productivity. The scents of peppermint and lavender not only create a more relaxing environment, but also take care of the plants and make you feel better.

A CNBC article reports Japanese research that full-time desk workers took care of plants during breaks, resulting in lower pulse rates and lower levels of anxiety.

It's also true that some of the sites that claim that plants help reduce stress are those that encourage the use of plants to clean the air.

There's nothing wrong with filling your house with flowers and greens, but keep this in mind. Plants have great power, but that is not magical power.

So, if you want to clean the air in your house, I recommend buying an air purifier as well as a pansy.

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Source: The Atlantic, Science Alert, Healthline, CNBC, Royal Parks, Billyoh, Client Earth, Camfil, NTRS, EPA, HGTV, Drexel University, ASHS